New Express Bus Route Connects Hillsborough, Duke

Duke community members commuting to-and-from Hillsborough or other areas in Orange County will have an additional way to get to Duke next month.

Beginning Aug. 18, Triangle Transit will open a new “ODX” express route serving Hillsborough, the Duke University Hospital and Durham VA Medical Center area and Durham Station downtown. The route, which will run during peak commute times, has three pick-up and drop-off times in the morning and evening:

The North Hillsborough Park-and-Ride location is at the North Hills Shopping Center at the intersection of Highway 70 and North Churton Street.

Orange County is the third-most populated county for Duke employees. About 4,600 faculty and staff live there, and almost 2,100 employees live in the three municipalities that will be directly impacted by the new routes.

Use GoPass to Ride Bus Routes

GoPass allows all students and eligible faculty and staff to have unlimited rides on DATA and Triangle Transit. The GoPass is free for students; eligible staff and faculty pay $25. To obtain a GoPass, students and eligible employees may apply in person with a valid DukeCard at one of Duke's Parking and Transportation offices on Campus Drive or the Duke Clinic.

Brad Schulz, communications officer with Triangle Transit, said that recent census data from central Orange County and eastern Alamance County showed significant commuting activity to Duke Hospital and downtown Durham. In addition, he noted a survey of about 650 Duke employees who live in those areas showed that interest in a daily express route was high.

“We’ve had hundreds of people say they’ll consider it for their commute,” Schulz said. “As an express route, we think it’ll be a great way to get to Duke, easing stress and the hunt for a parking spot.”

Duke community members can ride the new ODX route with the GoPass – like all trips on Triangle Transit and Durham Area Transit Authority buses. For a one-time cost of $25 per year, employees can enjoy unlimited rides on Triangle Transit and DATA buses. The GoPass is free for Duke Students.

Alison Carpenter, manager of Duke’s transportation demand management program, noted that the $25 fee is equivalent to five round trips on a Triangle Transit express bus.

“With the GoPass, this new route is an incredible deal for commuters,” said Alison Carpenter, manager of Duke’s transportation demand management program. “It’s a steal for a year-round commute when the average American spends approximately 19 percent of their household budget on transportation costs.”

For more information about the new route, including maps and pick-up/drop-off times, see this brochure. In addition to the new ODX route, other changes are taking place for Triangle Transit passengers.

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Also, starting Aug. 18, Triangle Transit will provide seven-day service on routes impacting Duke. The changes will extend service hours on Saturday to 11 p.m. and add service on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for: